Apparatus for cleaning pipes



Dec. 25, 1951 w. A. FRANK 2,579,813

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING PIPES Filed March 27, 1947 2 SHEETS -SHEET 1WILLIAM A. FRANK INVENTOR.

Dec. 25, I951 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING PIPES Filed March 27, 1947INVENTOR. B3 4 WILLIAM. A. FRANK BY (Qm w. A. FRANK 2,579,813

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Dec. 25, 1951 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING PIPESWilliam A. Frank, Hackensack, N. J., assignor to National Water MainCleaning 00., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maine Application March2'7, 1947, Serial No. 737,456

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for cleaningpipelines or water mains and is more particularly concerned withimprovements in pipe cleaning machines of the type wherein the scrapingelements are'disposed on a plurality of articulated sections which aredrawn or otherwise moved by water pressure or the like while thescrapers perform a scarifying action on the interior of the pipe.Difficulties are sometimes encountered in the operation of such deviceson striking an obstruction or repair projection causing the section tooverarticulate and become located ofi center at a bias to the pipe beingcleaned. Also it is desirable that the scraper head be centered in thepipe to provide a substantially equal annular orifice around the rigidportions of the machine to facilitate the passage of wash water for theremoval of corrosion and other accumlated d bris. It has been found thatthe accumulation of debris in the lower portion of the pipe tends tocause the scraper head to ride against the upper periphery of the pipecreating an abrading effect which frequently damages or destroys thescrapers and other machine elements of the cleaning tool before it isfinally and immovably wedged in the pipe.

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction ofcleaning device in which the entire series of scrapers is flexiblysupported in the tubular pipe so that the scraper sections are centeredwithin the pipe irrespective of the presence of accumulated corrosion orother debris.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved pipecleaning device provided with means for automatically centering thescraper heads of said device to prevent said heads from becominglaterally displaced with respect to the pipe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pipe cleaning machinewhich moves through the pipe on rollers so mounted as to be movablelaterally as objects are encountered.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a pipe cleaning toolprovided with means for resisting any tendency of the machine to becomedisplaced with progressively increased resistance with respect to thedegree of displacement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparentupon considering the following detailed description of what presentlyconstitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention together with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view partly in section of a pipe containing apreferred form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and Figure 3shows a sectional detail of a pipe containing one of the devices formingthe subject of the invention.

The specific form of device shown in the drawing is one which may bepropelled through the pipe by the pressure of water flowing through thepipe or be moved therethrough by a cable or other suitable means itbeing understood that the invention is not being limited to anyparticular means for advancing the cleaner through the pipe but may beemployed in connection with any suitable means for this purpose.

In accordance with the present invention the difficulties normallyinherent in devices of this character are overcome by providing thescrapers with a plurality of guide wheels or rollers directed toward theinterior surface of the pipe and resiliently mounted or loaded to anamount greater than the Weight of the machine so that the scrapersections remain roughly centered to the interior of the pipe even whenirregularities are encountered on the interior of the pipe. In apreferred embodiment the guide wheels or rollers are pivotally mountedon the scraper heads and spring loaded into engagement with the pipe insuch a way that any tendency of the machine to deviate from the centerline of the pipe is resisted by spring pressure which progressivelyincreases with the increase in degree of deviation.

Since in the normal progress of the cleaning tool through the pipe,foreign matter such as boulders, pick handles and like materials may beencountered. it is preferred to so mount the guide wheels or rollers toallow for endwise movement in order to facilitate movement of the devicethrough the pipe.

In a preferred form the device embodies means to positively check theinward movement of the guide wheels or rollers beyond a predeterminedlimit so that under no condition is it possible for the scraper head toactually engage the interior of the pipe.

Referring to the drawing and in particular to Figure 1 a plurality ofscraper elements or sections Ill are shown in progress around a curvedsection of tubular pipe or conduit ll. These sections in the form of atrain may be connected together by chains or other suitable means andmoved through the pipe in the manner described for example inmy issuedPatent 1,193,005 of August 1, 1916. Each of these elements It comprisesa substantially cup shaped cleaner head or scraper support l-2 providedwith a relatively large central aperture l3 in its base or front wallfor the accommodation of a shaft, chain or other suitably flexible meansfor connecting the elements together in articulated fashion. Mounted infront of the cleaner head or scraper support 12 and near the peripherythereof are pairs of bifurcated arms or supports I 4 each pair of saidarms carrying a shaft l5 upon which is pivotally mounted a pair offrames or links 16 which in' turn carry a stud' shaft l! for the guidewheel or roller It. The guide wheel or roller 18 is mounted for freeendwise movement on the stud shaft ll. In the illustrated embodiment thecleaner head or scraper support i2 is provided with a number ofcylindrical spring sockets 19 corresponding in numberto the rollers 18and directed at an angle to the axis of the machine. Contained withineach of the sockets 19 is an elongated bolt 25 engaging at one end anapertured plate or cross member 2| mounted on the rear or flat portionof the frames or links 1'5 and at its opposite end extending through thebase wall of the socket i9 and provided with a check nut 22a to serve aguide for a coilspring 22 which provides resilient loading for thepivotally mounted rollers it in an amount greater than the weight of thecleaner head or scraper support 12 when the entire weight must be takenby a single roller.

Although 4 guide wheels or rollers l8 are shown in the illustratedembodiment of theinvention, any number of such rollers may be providedaccording to the particular application and type of cleaner. In mostcases, it is desirable to provide at least 3 rollers mounted at an equaldistance around the periphery of the cleaner head or scraper support Itto positively center the scraper head within the pipe and to allow thecontinued movement of the machine when obstacles are encountered. Thespring pressure for each roller may be less when the number of rollersare increased.

Mounted to the rear of the guide wheels 18 on the cleaner head orscraper support iii are a plurality of scraper members 23 comprisingsteel blades curved outwardly toward the inner surface of the pipe atthe trailing end of the scraper head to act on and scarify theencrustation or corrosion on the interior of the pipe.-

The opposite end 24 of the scraper members 23 are adapted to be held inthe flanged portion ofthe scraper head l2 and for that purpose such endis made angular in cross section so as the interior of the pipe when thecenter line will be slightly modified but in such a way as to vary theposition of the entire cleaner head or scraper support I2.

The result of this shifting action is to avoid V abrasive contact of thescraper head with the interior surface of the pipe to preserve and main:tain a substantially annular passage around the periphery of the scraperhead to facilitate the passage .of wash water for the removal ofaccumulated debris and scale from the scraper elements. In order tolimit'movement of the guide wheels or rollers 13 toward the center linethe sleeves 21 are provided for the springs 22 so as to limit thepivotal or angular movement of the frames or links it toward the centerline. A similar action may be provided by adjusting the size of thespring so that further inward movement is prevented when adjacentconvolutions of the spring touch.

I claim:

1. A machine for cleaning the. interior of pipe comprising a scraperhead, flexible scrapers extending from one end of said head, wheelsyieldingly carried by the other end of said head by means of pivotalwheel carriers and being independently movable with respect to saidhead, said head being centrally, resiliently supported between saidscrapers and said Wheels, a cylinder in said head adjacent each wheel,'a sprin in said cylinder bearing against one of said wheel carriers tourge said carrier radially outwardly independently of said othercarriers, movable stop 'means supported by each cylinder and engagingsaid pivotal wheel carrierto limit the outward radial extension of saidwheels, and stop means within each cylinder independent of said firststop means, for limiting the radial retraction of said wheels.

2. A machine for cleaning the interior of pipes comprising scraper head,means on said head for supporting said head centrallywithin the pipecomprising flexible scraper blades extending from one end thereof andbearing against the bore of the pipe, and wheels yieldingly supportedfrom the other end thereof, said head being supported between saidscrapers and said wheels, said wheel support comprising wheel carryingarms pivotally mounted on said head, movable stop means connected tosaid arms and limited in its outward radial movement by said head tolimit the radial extension of said wheels, and means about saidmovable'means for limitin the radial retraction of said wheels.

3. A machine for cleaning the boreof pipe comprising a scraper head,means on said head for supporting said head centrally within said borecomprising flexible scraper blades extending from one end thereof andbearing against said bore and wheels yieldingly supported from the otherend thereof and bearing against the bore, said head being supportedbetween said scraper and said wheels, said wheel support comprising armsfixed to said head and wheel carrying members pivotally mounted on saidarms; a cylinder on said head adjacent each arm having an aperturedbottom, and stop means extending through said cylinder, limited in onedirection of movement by the bottom thereof, and being flxed at one endto said arm, a spring around said stop means urging said wheel supportradially outwardly against the pipe bore, said stop means limiting theradial movement of said wheel support.

4. A machine according to claim 3, in which a sleeve forming a secondstop means is positioned in said cylinder about said sprin to limit theradial retraction of said wheel support to a diameter'not less than thediameter of said head.

WILLIAM A. FRANK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me ofthis patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er Name Date 323,972 Sweeney Aug,11, 1885 332,910 Klein Dec. 22,1885

1,006,261. Mueller. Oct. 17, 19.11 7 1,608,347 Thompson et a1. Nov. 23:1926 1,620,788 Thompson et'al Mar. 15, 1927 1,631,562 Thompson et a1.June 7, 1927 1,966,819 Irvin June 17,1934

